Hi all - first time post here. Am really looking for some advice if anyone is kind enough to give me their opinions.

I recently bought a new 1.6 Diesel Focus with 68K on the clock. The car is now in limp mode with an error relating to the clogged DPF. (I got it from an auctions - so no warranty etc.) I have been driving it while working out what to do, but just been told by one mechanic that while in limp the engine flushes diesel into the oil which obviously ain't good (and i just did oil changel!!!) so I need to act fast.

My two options I have come to that are a lot less than taking it to a Ford garage (cheapest I can find is £600) is to:

- Try a forced regeneration. I've been quoted £50 by a friend of a friend .. but will then sort it out for good if I look after it from now on? (I'm guessing the previous owners only drove around town. I have spoken to the meahnic who has previously serviced it and he said he topped it up with the fluid etc as you're supposed to.) Also, if it's really far gone then this won't do squat!

- I spoke to a company (http://www.ecuflash.co.uk/DPFRemoval.aspx) who can remap the ECU to not need the DPF (£250) and according to them this needs to be paired with a mechanic removing the dpf and taking out the actual filter and replacing the casing. (£100). This is more expensive but in theory will not cause another issue, won't require anymore fluid and apparently runs more effeciently as the exhaust is now opened up more. However it does require sending off the car's chip in the post which does frighten me a little.

I know it's up to me at the end of the day, but keen to bounce it off anyone!

Thanks

on the 1.6 and 2.0l tdci they need an additive to be added every 37.500 miles this is a ford job, if you buy (Haynes manual No 4807 it should cover your car from 54 to 09 cost of manual is £20 from halfords)this should tell you what you need to know. i would not recommend removing the dpf as it may not pass an mot test.,, look in to it carefully be for you do take it off... (this manual also covers my focus 1.8 tdci 05)

(if you go on ebay you can find the additive for about £60, and haynes 4807 book for £15)

Alz

Ford dpf's need repalcing at circa 75k so its likely that even if you did a forced regen the dpf is getting towards the end of its life so the problem may occur again soon. If you intend on keeping the car for a while it may be better to have the dpf replaced (expensive yes, but it won't need replacing for a while). If on the other hand you do mainly short journeys you may just want to do a patch up job and flog it asap as dpf cars need long runs to do 'natural' regenerations (the ecu will only attempt a forced regen a few times before going in to limp mode).

im pretty sure that all ford do during a "forced regeneration" is hold the car at high revs for about 10 minutes. allowing the exhaust and dpf to get sufficiently hot to burn off the blockage causing the clog. as far as the car purposely putting diesel into the oil during limp mode, never ever heard of that before?!? how is that even possible lol and why!?!?

I hate all of these DPF problems (thats why i chose the 1.8 tdci :P)

as far as taking the dpf off goes... im pretty sure that cars built without it are allocated a higher emissions level, so because your car has it the emissions limit will be lower, if you take it off the emissions may pass above the limit for a dpf car and cause it to be an MOT failure, i would seriously look into it before taking it off.

there was a big discussion on the focus dpf not so long ago which may be of assistance

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13690

You cant do a forced generation yourself when its in limp mode as you wont be able to go above 3000rpm.

It would have to be a main dealer job even for this.

Personally, if at all possible, I would take the plunge and take out the DPF altogether but this is of course dependant on if the software to remap the ECU will work for the Focus. Catch put a thread up here a week or 2 back relating to this:

DPF removal

If this works then this would be the best solution in my mind.

Other than that, do what I did, and get a £300 DPF from ebay and get an independent garage to fit. This would save you over £1000 compared to letting Fords get their hands on it.